Arsenal predicted line-up vs Chelsea: six changes made as £42m summer signing returns

Premier League heavyweights Arsenal will be desperate to return to winning ways when they play host to London rivals Chelsea in a crucial game in the race for Champions League football. The Gunners are aiming to end a three match streak without a win in the league after costly draws with Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and a defeat to West Ham in the past three weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s men are through to the quarter-final of the Champions League but still need to maintain a strong standard in the Premier League if they are to achieve top four again after falling 15 points behind Liverpool in this year’s title race. As it stands, Arsenal are second in the league with 55 points, leaving them six ahead of their capital foes Chelsea who climbed back into fourth position after much-needed victories over Southampton and Leicester City.

Arsenal earned a 1-1 draw on the road at Stamford Bridge last time out and will be desperate to earn all three points to put a dent in Enzo Maresca’s European hopes. Ahead of a crucial game at the Emirates Stadium, we take a look at the team Mikel Arteta is likely to select against the Blues.

Arsenal injury news

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka remains on the sidelines with a thigh problem which has come as a real blow to the team’s title bid in recent months. The England international is expected to return to action after the international break at the start of April with Arteta commenting: “After the international break, let’s see where [Bukayo] is. His progress is really good; he is really willing - as you can all imagine - so we are positive that in a few weeks, hopefully, he will be back.”

However, other attacking threats including Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will not be available until next season in a devastating blow to Arteta’s side.

Arsenal predicted line-up

Goalkeeper David Raya has been an ever present in the league this season and is targeting an 11th clean sheet of the season against the Blues. At right-back Ben White came into the line-up for Wednesday’s draw with PSV and is expected to keep his place in the team as he continues to gain match fitness after injury.

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Jakub Kiwior started the round-of-16 match against PSV last time out but is expected to make way for William Saliba who is likely to start alongside usual partner Gabriel. Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who recently earned his first England call-up, is expected to drop out to be replaced by summer signing Riccardo Calafiori. Ben White is set to start on the right side of the back four.

In midfield Declan Rice will be tasked with keeping a close eye on Blues maestro Cole Palmer, who remains a huge threat despite his recent dip in form. Rice is expected to play alongside Thomas Partey and the more creative Martin Odegaard despite a strong showing from Oleksandr Zinchenko in the Champions League against PSV, with Jorginho also dropping to the bench.

In attack, Gabriel Martinelli is expected to start on the left hand side alongside Leandro Trossard and makeshift centre forward Mikel Merino. Raheem Sterling is unable to face his parent club after making two assists in midweek.

Arsenal full predicted XI: Raya; Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Partey; Odegaard; Martinelli, Trossard, Merino.

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